Why Annabelle is fuming mad

As the evening wore on, with everybody having had their fill of the sumptuous dinner, some of the guests expected the Birthday Boy, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, to announce his rumored bid for the Senate in 2001 but, to most everybody's relief, he did not.

It was his birthday and Mayor Jinggoy wanted everybody to have fun. Everybody meant who's who from showbiz and politics, with Mayor Jinggoy's President father, Erap, and his mom, First Lady Loi Ejercito Estrada leading the array of guests who occupied every nook and cranny of a function room of Club Filipino that Thursday evening (Feb. 17).

It's true: President Erap forgot the country's problems and political intrigues for a while and danced the night away.

Besides showbiz stalwarts (some of whom are duly noted in photos on this page and the next), such as Marichu Maceda, Ara Mina, Dodot Jaworski, Priscilla Almeda, Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla, Judy Ann Santos and Eddie Romero, government officials and political figures also showed up to wish Mayor Jinggoy "Many happy returns of the day," including former DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Sen. Bobby Jaworski, Sen. Tito Sotto, Sen. Jun Magsaysay, and San Juan Rep. Jose Mari Gonzalez (with wife Charito Mallarky).

What everybody didn't notice that night was guest Annabelle Rama seething in silence, but (thank heavens!) holding her temper.

A Funfare pa-sosyal DPA who gatecrashed into the party reported that Isabel Rivas, seated at a nearby table with Mayor Jinggoy's wife Precy Vitug, Lani Mercado and Lorna Tolentino (among others), approached Annabelle's table where also seated Annabelle's two sexy proteges Miya Nolasco (who's starring in Seiko, Films' Mapagbigay) and newcomer Veronica Veron, Rudy Fernandez and Bong Revilla.

"Without looking at Annabelle," the DPA reported, "Isabel asked Bong to transfer to their table. Otherwise, baka raw magalit si Lani. A few minutes later, after Bong 'obeyed' her, Isabel again approached Annabelle's table and then asked Rudy to transfer to their table. Otherwise, baka raw magalit si Lorna. In a jiffy, only Annabelle and her proteges were left on the table."

Now, do you understand at this point why Isabel was asking (or has been asked by whoever) Rudy and Bong to vacate Annabelle's table? Yes: The insinuation was that the two guys might be attracted to the two sexy ladies with Annabelle.

No, the story didn't end there.

"Later that evening when most everybody had left," the DPA continued, "Isabel again approached Annabelle's table and said something like they (Annabelle and company) could leave now because the 'buyers' had gone."

Was Isabel joking? Was she trying to tease Annabelle maybe? Was Isabel in a buoyant mood because it was the birthday celebration of the husband of her good friend (Precy Vitug)?

Annabelle didn't take it that way, that's why she was fuming mad.

"That night," said the DPA, "Annabelle wanted to confront Isabel but she kept her cool in due respect to the celebrator. Gustung-gusto na niyang komprontahin si Isabel pero nagtimpi siya. Nobody among the guests noticed it but Annabelle was embarassed -- and very angry (although she was smiling)."

Anyway, according to the DPA, the night ended without any untoward incident.

Has the controversial Cebuana shrugged it off as one of those incidents?

"No," said the DPA. "Now, she's hunting Isabel, spoiling for a confrontation -- a showdown?"

(Note: Isabel Rivas wasn't available for comment as of press time but she can call up Funfare to air her side anytime.)